Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 443.031. Care, Custody, and Display of Victory or Death Letter, Texas Constitution, and Texas Declaration of Independence

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) In this section, "victory or death letter" means the letter written by Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis dated February 24, 1836, and signed "Victory or Death."

(b) The board is responsible for the care and custody of the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Declaration of Independence.  The board is responsible for the safety and preservation of the victory or death letter at all times, including when the letter is in the direct custody of the board, in storage, or on display in the Alamo complex, Capitol Complex, or another site the board determines appropriate under Subsection (f).

(c) The board, in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, shall:

(1) designate an appropriate place in the Alamo complex for the secure display of the victory or death letter;  and

(2) on the Texas Historical Commission's determination that the transfer to and display of the letter at the Alamo complex is safe and appropriate, transfer the letter to that location for display.

(d) Until the board designates an appropriate place in the Alamo complex to display the victory or death letter and in collaboration with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission determines an appropriate time to securely transfer the letter to that place, the board, in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, shall display the victory or death letter in the public location at the Capitol Complex at which the Texas Constitution and the Texas Declaration of Independence are displayed as required by Subsection (e).

(e) The board shall collaborate with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to determine an appropriate public location at the Capitol Complex for the secure display of the Texas Constitution and the Texas Declaration of Independence.

(e-1) The board, in consultation and collaboration with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and not later than December 1, 2027, shall:

(1) develop a plan to display:

(A) the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Texas Constitution in the Capitol Complex;  and

(B) the victory or death letter in the Alamo complex and other sites the board determines appropriate under Subsection (f);

(2) publish the plan on the board's Internet website;  and

(3) provide a copy of the plan to the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over the state's historical resources.

(e-2) Subsection (e-1) and this subsection expire September 1, 2031.

(f) The board, in consultation and collaboration with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, may authorize for a limited period the display of the Texas Constitution, the Texas Declaration of Independence, or the victory or death letter at a museum, historical event, or historical site.

(g) Costs attributable to the display of the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Declaration of Independence shall be paid by the board, using money available to the board for that purpose.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 443.031. Care, Custody, and Display of Victory or Death Letter, Texas Constitution, and Texas Declaration of Independence - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/government-code/gov-t-sect-443-031/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard